"
"Confess himself!" exclaimed the Templar, in a tone where alarm
mingled with surprise and scorn--"and to whom, I pray thee?"
"My master bid me be secret," said the squire; on which the Grand
Master pushed past him, and entered the tent almost by force.
The Marquis of Montserrat was kneeling at the feet of the hermit
of Engaddi, and in the act of beginning his confession.
"What means this, Marquis?" said the Grand Master; "up, for
shame--or, if you must needs confess, am not I here?"
"I have confessed to you too often already," replied Conrade,
with a pale cheek and a faltering voice. "For God's sake, Grand
Master, begone, and let me unfold my conscience to this holy
man."
"In what is he holier than I am?" said the Grand Master.
--"Hermit, prophet, madman--say, if thou darest, in what thou
excellest me?"
"Bold and bad man," replied the hermit, "know that I am like the
latticed window, and the divine light passes through to avail
others, though, alas! it helpeth not me. Thou art like the iron
stanchions, which neither receive light themselves, nor
communicate it to any one.
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